Council welcomes progress on new GP surgery for Houlton

Councillors welcomed the progress at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday 23 September, when they agreed an amended motion on primary care provision for the growing community.

NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has approved the scheme to move to the full business case stage. It has also approved, in principle, the additional revenue needed to support the new primary care facility.

The ICB is working with developer Urban & Civic on the design. The aim is to secure full business case approval during the current financial year so that a planning application and detailed design work can follow in 2027/28.

Clifton Road Surgery has been selected to run a branch practice from the new centre while retaining its existing surgery.

The plans would be delivered in two phases. The first phase would provide seven clinical rooms and capacity for 6,000 patients. A second phase would add eight rooms, taking the total to 15 clinical rooms and capacity for 12,000 patients.

Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for partnerships, health and wellbeing, said: “This is welcome and long-awaited progress for Houlton.

“Residents rightly expect essential services to grow alongside their community. The ICB is responsible for commissioning GP services, and its decision to move the scheme forward provides a much clearer route towards a new surgery.

“I would like to thank Cllrs Kedward and Daly, and councillors across the parties, for bringing this motion and supporting it.

“The council has helped to keep partners around the table, shared information about housing growth and used its planning role to support provision for healthcare land. We will continue to coordinate discussions, represent residents and press for the agreed timetable to be maintained.”

The section 106 planning agreement for Houlton provides for 0.3 hectares of serviced land for a GP surgery. As the ICB has no capital funding available to build the facility, Urban&Civic is working with the ICB to consider other ways to fund it, including the possibility of building the centre and leasing it long-term.

The ICB has also supported additional capacity at existing surgeries while the Houlton facility is developed. Whitehall Medical Practice has added six clinical rooms since 2021. Clifton Road Surgery has completed two phases of internal improvements and is developing plans for a further five clinical rooms, subject to approval.

Cllr Isabelle McKenzie, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Growth and Investment, said: “The land for the health facility was not due to be handed over to the NHS until 3,100 homes were occupied. We are delighted that facilities at Houlton are being developed ahead of schedule and would like to thank both the ICB, Clifton Road Surgery and Urban & Civic for coming together so quickly to bring forward this new facility. Houlton residents have made a clear and reasonable case for better access to primary care.

“The programme to finalise plans in 2027/28 is a significant step forward. Attention must now remain on completing the business case, agreeing the detailed programme and keeping residents informed.

“We recognise that the ICB is responsible for commissioning primary care, but the council still has an important role. We will continue to bring partners together, ask questions on behalf of residents and monitor progress towards delivery.”

The council will continue working with the ICB, Urban & Civic, local GP practices and other partners as the business case and designs progress.